2009 Jacksonville Jaguars: Season Preview
By Wilson of Predictem.com
2008 Record: 5-11 (4th in AFC south) ATS 4-12, O/U 7-9
Stadium: Jacksonville Municipal Stadium
Head Coach: Jack Del Rio
Superbowl Odds: +5100
Training Camp Site: Jacksonville, Florida
Training Camp Dates: August 3 – 13 (open to public)
Intro: Wow, just a year ago the Jaguars were flying high with great expectations especially after beating the Steelers in a playoff game to enter the `08 season as a potential superbowl winner. But the Jaguars were grounded and even buried last season by only winning five games after tallying eleven victories in `07.
New Jaguar’s GM Gene Smith is poised to make a difference in Jacksonville. Smith is rumored to take an old school, tooth and nails approach which hopefully carries over to the field. Playing in one of the most competitive divisions will only make the Jaguar’s task that more difficult.
Head coach, Jack Del Rio may be fighting to keep his job this season. Rio is known for his guts and gritty toughness, but will the team finally buy in and produce?
Who’s New? WR Torry Holt, S Sean Considine, S Marlon McCree, OT Tra Thomas, No. 1 draft pick OLT Eugene Monroe (Virginia)
Who’s gone? RB Fred Taylor (to New England Patriots) WR Reggie Williams, TE George Wrightster, OT Khalif Barnes, MLB Mike Peterson, DE Paul Spicer, WR Jerry Porter, CB Drayton Florence.
Offense: QB David Garrard had a passer rating of 102.2 in 2007 but that number dropped to 81.7 in `08. In Garrard’s defense, he didn’t exactly have a super star cast of receivers to hook up with. Garrard can scramble better than most QBs, and with a talented receiving core, can be very accurate.
The big play maker for the Jaguars will be the rushing attack of MJD (Maurice Jones-Drew. MJD just signed a five-year 31 million dollar contract that proves the organization believes in him! Look for MJD to carry the ball 25 times or more per game unless he shows signs of fatigue.
The receiving corps in Jacksonville is seriously searching for identity. After releasing first-round disappointments Reggie Williams and Matt Jones as well as Jerry Porter the Jags’ will now look to former Pro Bowler Torry Holt to come on board and make the airways open again. But even with Holt on the field the Jaguars will need Dennis Northcutt and Mike Walker to step up and contribute.
The O-line has taken hits lately due to age and injury but a healthy Vince Manuwai and Maurice Williams can make a world of difference.
Defense: Defensive coordinator Mel Tucker, who is the third DC in three years, will team up with head coach Jack Del Rio to mastermind the Jags’ usual in-your-face system. Tucker hopes that the maturity level of the younger guys will kick in this season now that they’ve had some time on the field as NFL players.
FS Reggie Nelson will most likely be the Jags’ MVP on the field. Nelson has incredible speed and makes primetime plays. The Jaguars have operated out of the 4-3 scheme in the past but they will mix it up by showing some “30” fronts in an attempt to confuse teams.
DE’s Derrick Harvey and Quentin Groves will make or break this defensive line. If these two second year lineman can put it together it will take a lot of pressure off the secondary players who have carried the Jags’ defense as of late.
LB’s Daryl Smith and Justin Durant will lead the linebacker attack. Durant should be more of a force as he grows and matures. Smith has the ability to play both inside and outside and he can handle his assignments.
Special Teams: Josh Scobee has solidified himself as a dependable placekicker.
New special-teams coordinator Russ Purnell is on staff after serving in Indianapolis the last seven years. Purnell will bring his expertise and certainly look to be successful under the Jags’ focus on the kicking game and overall play on special teams.
2009 Jacksonville Jaguars Schedule:
September – 13 at Indianapolis Colts
September – 20 Arizona Cardinals
September – 27 at Houston Texans
October – 4 Tennessee Titans
October – 11 at Seattle Seahawks
October – 18 St. Louis Rams
October – 25 BYE
November – 1 at Tennessee Titans
November – 8 Kansas City Chiefs
November – 15 at New York Jets
November – 22 Buffalo Bills
November – 29 at San Francisco 49ers
December – 6 Houston Texans
December – 13 Miami Dolphins
December – 17 Indianapolis Colts
December – 27 at New England Patriots
January – 3 at Cleveland Browns
Betting Odds and Projections:
Jacksonville knows all to well what obstacles they face heading into the `09 season. The deciding factor for the Jaguars may be the play of the lineman on both sides of the ball. QB Garrard will need more time behind center to make plays and the D-line will need to step up the pressure and close the gaps.
The oddsmakers have the Jaguars at +5100 to win superbowl 44. The Jaguars are probably one of the most dangerous 5-11 teams coming into this season given their potential.
With a 2008 ATS record of 4-12, and a 7-9 O/U record, look for good value at the online sportsbooks as they probably won't be getting much respect from the general public.
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